CELEBRATION

A lonely 4th of July, I slip onto a worn booth bench, springs ready to pop, turning me into an aged bouncing bobble-head. I order “happier times” flavor—blueberries, raspberries, and whipped cream, covering crepes—bursting red, white, blue, into Independence Day taste bud dances. Seven decades, awe inspired, sky-lit painted multicolor glitter, a cosmic punch—thunderclap cymbals: fireworks. Morning haze—sulfur clung air—silence birds’ chirping.

Seated at the next table, I hear a young Boy Scout assure his mother, marching in the parade is no problem for his troop—they practice hiking. Then, proudly announcing, “I’m ready to help if someone gets hurt, because, I studied external and eternal first-aid.” Parade memories float timelessly. At home, I watch for flare-ups as fireworks flash. During late night, far away boom-boom-boom, closed eyes picture a young Boy Scout saving this world with “eternal first-aid.”

April Ryan is a retired Seattle Metro driver and an actively working writer/poet.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

SHARING STORIES is featured on www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type "sharing stories" in the search function above.